Role of ependyma in forebrain homeostasis

项目说明 中枢神经系统(CNS)功能崩溃的高概率 衰老，如阿尔茨海默病和各种痴呆症，是老年人主要担心的问题。触发启动 与年龄相关的疾病和神经疾病在很大程度上是未知的。这些的一把钥匙 关联可能是大脑中室管膜细胞的数量。室管膜细胞形成一层单层， 作为脑脊液(CSF)和上覆的细胞隔室之间的屏障 大脑。因此，它们调节脑脊液的产生、循环和过滤，因此室管膜细胞是关键 这是新描述的“淋巴-淋巴”系统的组成部分。这个系统是用来控制脑脊液的- 脑实质中的血管相互作用，从而有助于脑的整体清除 毒物和代谢副产物，并允许免疫细胞进入大脑。室管膜层 在衰老的大脑中似乎受到了损害，但这种损害是否由大脑中的故障信号引起 覆盖中枢神经系统组织，或者如果室管膜损伤导致中枢神经系统中神经元和神经胶质细胞的缺陷 未知。我们已经建立了几个遗传小鼠模型，这些模型表明室管膜层可能是 脑间质中与各种神经退行性疾病有关的许多问题的根源 中枢神经系统的正常衰老。我们将使用这些模型来研究这一新概念。对我们的小鼠模型的研究 揭示了一种以前未知的中枢室管膜细胞粘蛋白的表达和清除。 由于粘蛋白在其他组织中起到预防炎症和传染病的作用，我们的研究结果 导致了中心假说，室管膜细胞分泌粘蛋白是维持和 衰老过程中前脑内稳态的功能完整性，粘蛋白分泌的中断可能会导致 中枢神经系统的异常功能和疾病。我们的项目使用了各种基因小鼠，连同细胞， 分子和生物化学方法来验证我们的假设。 潜在的更广泛的影响：我们了解衰老如何通过大脑 室管膜细胞的单层具有广泛的意义。破坏过滤和保护功能 室管膜细胞可能是衰老后期出现的一系列病理情况的根源。 因此，掌握控制大脑衰老的基本细胞机制对于理解 不仅室管膜细胞可以控制健康的衰老，室管膜细胞的异常也是如此 衰老可能会导致阿尔茨海默氏症等毁灭性疾病。此外，我们研究的机制可能是 通过选择性地靶向室管膜功能来开发新的衰老疗法。

Project Description The high probability of breakdown in the functioning of the central nervous system (CNS) during late stages of aging, as in Alzheimer’s disease and various dementias is a major concern for the elderly. Triggers that initiate age-associated diseases and neurological conditions are for the most part unknown. A key to these associations could be the population of ependymal cells in the brain. Ependymal cells form a monolayer that functions as a barrier between the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the overlying cellular compartments of the brain. As such, they regulate CSF production, circulation, and filtering, and thus ependymal cells are a key component of the newly described ‘glymphtic-lymphatic’ system. This system is purported to control CSF- vascular interactions in the brain parenchyma and thus contribute to the overall clearance of the brain of toxicants and metabolic byproducts and allow entry of immune cells into the brain. The ependymal layer appears damaged in the aged brain, yet whether the damage is caused by malfunctioning signals in the overlying CNS tissue, or if ependymal damage causes defects in neurons and glia in the CNS remain unknown. We have developed several genetic mouse models which suggest the ependymal layer may be the root of many problems in the brain interstitium related to various neurodegenerative diseases and during normal aging in the CNS. We will use these models to study this novel concept. Studies in our mouse models have revealed a previously unknown expression and clearance of mucins by ependymal cells in the CNS. Since mucins function to protect against inflammation and infectious diseases in other tissues, our results have led to the central hypothesis that mucin secretion by ependymal cells is required for maintenance and functional integrity of homeostasis in the forebrain during aging, and that disruption of mucin secretion can lead to aberrant function and disease in the CNS. Our project uses a variety of genetic mice, together with cellular, molecular, and biochemical approaches to test our hypothesis. Potential for Broader Impact: Our approaches to understand how aging affects the brain through its monolayer of ependymal cells have wide implications. Disruption of filtration and protective functions of ependymal cells may be the root of a range of pathological conditions that emerge during late stages of aging. Therefore, undertaking the basic cellular mechanisms that control aging of the brain is critical to understanding not only how healthy aging may be controlled by ependymal cells, but also how abnormalities in ependymal aging may lead to devastating diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Moreover, the mechanisms we study can be harnessed to develop novel aging therapeutics by targeting ependymal functions selectively.